The Lakers have been one of the NBA's hottest teams since the beginning of February, winning 21 of their last 31 games and clinching a postseason spot in the process.
The playoffs, however, are another story.
Despite LA's surge, it entered the final week of the NBA season as the West's ninth seed and the window to move up in the standings is dwindling. After making a run from the Play-In Tournament to the Western Conference Finals in 2023, the Lakers will need to make a similar push in 2024.
With LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way, the Lakers have the look and makeup of a playoff team, but they still have their work cut out. While no seeding is set, the Lakers are locked into a spot in the Play-In Tournament, however, the team could finish anywhere from seventh to 10th.
What are the Lakers' playoff scenarios? Here is a look at seeding possibilities, potential postseason opponents and a look at the standings as the season winds down.
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Lakers playoff scenarios 2024
With one game remaining on their regular season schedule, the Lakers can finish no higher than eighth in the Western Conference standings. Therefore, Los Angeles is guaranteed to be playing in the Play-In Tournament,
If the Lakers finish eighth, they would need to win just one game to advance to the NBA Playoffs.
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Lakers Play-In Tournament tiebreakers, explained
There are several possibilities for the Lakers to land in the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament. Where the Lakers land depends on how they close the season because of their head-to-head tiebreakers with the Kings and Warriors.
Los Angeles' simplest path to the eight-seed is to finish at least one game ahead of Golden State and Sacramento.
How Lakers can clinch No. 8 seed in Play-In Tournament
Here are the five scenarios that would result with the Lakers staying in the West's eighth seed:
- Lakers win and Kings win and Warriors win
- Lakers win and Kings win and Warriors lose
- Lakers win and Kings lose and Warriors win
- Lakers win and Kings lose and Warriors lose
- Lakers lose and Kings lose and Warriors lose
Lakers potential postseason opponents
Play-In Tournament
If the season ended today, the 8-seed Lakers would travel to the 7-seed Suns in the Play-In Tournament.
NBA Playoffs
Regardless of their Play-In Tournament standing, the Lakers would face one of the Timberwolves, Nuggets or Thunder in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
With one game remaining, the West's top three seeds are tied in the standings. With a Play-In Tournament victory, LA would finish seventh or eighth, setting up a first-round date with the team that finishes in one of the top two seeds.
MORE: Updated NBA Playoffs bracket and today's clinching scenarios
Lakers standings 2024
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1 | Thunder | 56-25 | — |
| 2 | Timberwolves | 56-25 | — |
| 3 | Nuggets | 56-25 | — |
| 4 | Clippers | 51-30 | 5 |
| 5 | Mavericks | 50-31 | 6 |
| 6 | Pelicans | 49-32 | 7 |
| 7 | Suns | 48-33 | 8 |
| 8 | Lakers | 46-35 | 10 |
| 9 | Kings | 45-36 | 11 |
| 10 | Warriors | 45-36 | 11 |
Lakers remaining schedule
The Lakers' season finale comes against the Pelicans on April 14.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | National TV |
| April 14 | at Pelicans | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?
The NBA Play-In Tournament will be held after the conclusion of the 2023-24 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. The teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in the standings of each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots. Teams Nos. 7-10 will enter the Play-In Tournament.
Each conference's Nos. 7 and 8 teams will face off, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser will still have one more opportunity to reach the playoffs.
Each conference's Nos. 9 and 10 teams will face off, with the winner advancing to play the loser of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game. The loser of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will be eliminated from playoff contention.
The loser of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game and the winner of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will then play against each other. The winner of that game will be the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. The loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.
Beyond the Play-In Tournament, the 2024 NBA Playoffs will follow the typical format, with full best-of-seven series through the NBA Finals.
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